REAL PARTIES: A Sweet Pink Lemonade 1st Birthday

How can this sweet Pink Lemonade 1st Birthday Party not make you smile?! =)

Found on Eat Drink Pretty's blog, I headed over to blog of the mom (and planner) of

this adorable party, and believe me when I saw there are so many more fun DIY details

and photos on Pam's blog than I could possibly post here. One of the things I love most

about parties like these, is that every single detail was DIY by Pam and the whole party

was done on a budget. I love to show my readers that you CAN have darling theme parties

with just a little inspiration and DIY creativity!

Way to go Pam!!

Pam custom designed the invitations and even took the photo herself ~ she estimates

the cost to be about .40 cents per invitation!

Pam took a cake decorating class the month before the party and homemade this darling

cake, including making the lemon toppers out of fondant! Wow!

This sweet scalloped garland was made from 4 sheets of scrapbook paper from a local

craft store ~ about .35 cents each.

And here is my favorite DIY detail...Pam used a crate from Michaels ($5.99 after

sheused a 40% of coupon) and some wood from Home Depot (about $4.00). The pink

paint isfrom Sherwin Williams in a "sample" size for $4.80 and cups from the dollar

store (4 cupsfor $1.00)!

You will just have to go over and check out all the pink and yellow yumminess and the

secret to Pam's success directly on her blog!

DIY Candy Necklace Craft Favor w/ FREE Printable Labels

I found this adorable DIY Candy Necklace Craft Favor with a downloadable printable

label on Paper and Cake's blog. They were so creative in coming up with a fresh alternative to the idea of candy buffets at parties.

They shared their tutorial on how to create your own modern favor boxes, filled with candy and string, for party guests to make their own couture candy necklaces. This would be perfect as a craft at a child party or baby shower done in a sweets~theme!

via Paper and Cake:

Supplies:

*favor boxes (4" clear cube boxes were used in this case)

*a skewer

*embroidery floss (to match your candy colors)

*cereal with holes (like fruit loops; a large box will fill 10 favor boxes)

*candies (take a favor box with you to the candy store so you can get a sense of

how much you need to fill each box)

1. Play with your color palette ! you could do each box in a single color group or include the whole rainbow!

2. Trim Licorice Belts into small squares. Using a skewer, poke a hole through licorice belts and other chew candies.

3. Layer the cereal, then candies in each box.

4. Place a length of embroidery floss ~ tied at one end with a Fruit Loop and knotted at the other - on top of candies inside the box.

5. You can make your own labels with pretty scrapbook papers and card stock or you can download Paper and Cake's Couture Candy Labels for free! Affix labels to box front.

6. Tie some rock candy to the box with some cording or ribbon.

7. Then let your guests have a blast making their own candy necklaces!

Be sure to check out Paper and Cake's blog to see all of their fabulous printable partyware!

Alice in Wonderland Engagement Shoot

When one of my favorite daily reads {Green Wedding Shoes} features a party or

styled photo shoot based on one of my favorite themes {Alice in Wonderland} ~ you know

I'm going to get excited!

...and I know I always say this, but this might be my favorite Alice in Wonderland styled

photo shoot to date. =) I love the fact that each of the Alice in Wonderland shoots that I

have featured have been based on the creative talent of the designer and photographer

{who in this case happen to be one in the same} , along with their personal vision and adaptation of the beloved story.

This engagement shoot that was featured on Green Wedding Shoes was inspired by the

bride's grandmother's tea cup collection, her old Alice storybook, and their wedding theme of "love and happiness". Photographer Joy of Wildflowers Photography, styled the shoot in

her own backyard! She combined the sentimental elements (a favorite quilt, grandmother's

tea cup collection and Alice storybook) along with a vintage gown, some hand~painted cardboard clouds, some mismatched velvet chairs, paper flowers, custom cupcakes and a

pair of hot pink socks! *Swoon*.

Be sure to check out more fantastic photos and all the details directly on Joy's blog!

DIY Alice in Wonderland Inspired Printables

More fun DIY Alice in Wonderland printables found via Nonpareil Magazine

and created by Shauna Younge. Enjoy, and head over to their blogs to say thank you!

Download DRINK ME tags here

Download EAT ME tags here

"Pride & Prejudice" Inspired Wedding Shoot

This gorgeous wedding shoot based on the Jane Austin novel "Pride & Prejudice" and

featured on The Sweetest Occasion, was designed and styled by Anne Sage of The City Sage,

and photographed by Lisa Lefkowitz. It was also featured on one of my other favorite reads, Style Me Pretty.

The location of this shoot was at the Villa Montalvo in Northern California, and will

definitely go down in my book as one of the most romantic photo shoots of the year.

I just love the romantic color palette of soft celadon green, peach, pink and ivory, paired

with lighthearted patterns ~ stripes, polka dots and butterfly chinoiserie. Combined that with the formal table settings, empire~inspired gown and accessories, and you have perfection!

I am a huge fan of bringing a beloved children's story, a favorite character or a romantic novel to life and I definitely give props to Anne Sage for a job well done!

As always, please see the original post on The Sweetest Occassion or Style Me Pretty for more images, as well as credit and links to all the talented designers who participated in this shoot.

Shabby Chic Fairy Party

Today I'm featuring this darling, homespun shabby chic fairy party that Pamela with Party Starters planned for her daughter's 5th birthday.

I love this party for so many reasons. First ~ it's simply adorable! But what's most

amazing about this party ~ is the fact that Pamela was able to create something so

beautiful and magical for under $100.

Her DIY secrets?? Using antique glassware from her collection, and creating the banners,

fairy boxes, cupcake wrappers, fairy cupcake picks and butterfly straw decorations

out of damask printed paper in watermelon pink, apricot orange, lime green and ocean blue.

All of the food and drink was made at home, and she only splurged on a couple of bags of

candy, popcorn and flowers.

I love how creative Pamela was in designing a party sure to delight any little girl that adores fairies and all things pretty and magical ~ without breaking the bank!

Be sure to head over to Party Starters to see all the behind the scenes touches and more

details and photos of the party.